[Elecraft] Re: KIO2 Required if you Remote the KPA100?

[Don Brown]

Hi

As I said in the post the KIO2 is the best way to do this and if you have a
KAT2 in your K2 then you must do it with a KIO2. However the question was
what do you do if you are buying the KAT100 in the anticipation of upgrading
to a KPA100 and want to operate QRP with the KAT100 for the time being. It
does not make much sense to buy the KIO2 just to drive the KAT100 and then
not need it when the KPA100 is acquired a short time later. The cable I
described could be built for a few dollars and the $90 the KIO2 cost could
be better placed toward the KPA100 or some other option. I think a lot of
people will want to take this option if the ultimate goal is to go QRO with
the KPA100. The KIO2 and KAT2 are great options for QRP and/or portable use
but if the 100 watt version is your direction then you could use the KAT100
and K2 alone for a while until the funds and/or time are ready for the
KPA100

Don Brown


----- Original Message -----
From: "Mario Lorenz" <ml@vdazone.org>
To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 10:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: KIO2 Required if you Remote the KPA100?


> On Thu, Nov 14, 2002 at 09:37:03AM -0600, Don Brown wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > OK I will take a stab at describing the cable. Please note I have not
done
> > this yet so I am not sure of any problems that may arise.
>
> [...]
>
> Once you do this your way, you assume that no KAT2 is built in the K2.
> This however is one of the few reasons why one would want to remote the
> KPA in the first place. The propper solution would be building the
splitter
> which is part of the KIO kit, which splits the 10pin connector to drive
> both the KAT and the KIO. OK, depending on how much you value a "clean"
> design, you probably could grab the signals from the KAT2.
>
> You will have to duplicate the relevant RF blocking features on these
lines,
> which is another part of the KIO kit.
>
> And you are still lacking Computer control, because the RS232 lines have
not
> yet been taken care of. If you added a small PCB with the TTL<->RS232
level
> adapter (aka MAX232), voila, you would have fully duplicated the KIO,
probably
> at a fraction of its price. You will have to judge yourself if this is
> ethically correct.
>
> The other possibility would be to run the RS232 TTL lines out and in  the
KPA
> or KAT100. I think there are two NC'd pins on the DB9 connector. However,
> the more unusual you set up these connectors, the more you risk damage to
> various components (K2, KPA, KAT, Computer) should you accidentally wire
> up the units incorrectly. I have spent some thought into
> the idea of doing away with the DB9 connectors and use VGA connectors
which
> have more pins and are less likely to be mistaken by accident. I do assume
> I'll have to add RF protection for the TTL RS232 lines, too.
>
> Overall, if you can spare the money, the KIO is most likely the best way
> to go, in particular since this most likely supports the cost of writing
> the elecraft remote software.
>
> Mario
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